Waterville area fisheries staff perform management, habitat and oversight work for 120 fishing lakes and 107 rivers and streams in Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, Blue Earth, Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Faribault and Waseca counties.
Popular area waters are the Cannon River Chain of Lakes, Madison Lake and Washington Lake. Each is popular for abundant panfish, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike.
- News & notices
New panfish daily limits
New regulations for sunfish and crappie are in place on a number of lakes for 2021 so anglers should closely check regulations for new daily limits.Get started fishing
We can help you get started fishing. Check out our tips and links to information on how to fish, filleting fish, frying fish and more.- Fishing opportunities
Outlooks
Learn to fish
- Fish hatchery
The Waterville hatchery was established in 1954 major updates of facility occurred in 1989, 1998, and 2012. The hatchery plays a major role in northern pike fry reintroduction in some area lakes after winterkill and reclamation as well as raising channel catfish for distribution to areas with fingerling requests and for St. Paul hatchery yearling production for stocking.
- Resources
Fishing outlook
Check out our 2020 fall area newsletter, updated at the end of September, and the 2021 Waterville area fishing outlook.
Information
- Education
- Fisheries long-term monitoring program
- Experimental & special regulations in the Waterville area
- Visit LakeFinder for stocking and survey information
- Waterville state fish hatchery history and fish management
- Where to fish
- Winterkill and dissolved oxygen monitoring
- Minnesota's new northern pike zones
- Talk with us
Waterville staff
Slide text left for phones & emails
Name
Position
Phone
Email
Craig Soupir Area supervisor 507-497-1821 [email protected] Brandon Eder Assistant area supervisor 507-497-1823 [email protected] Andrew Scholten Fisheries specialist - hatchery 507-497-1824 [email protected] Skyler Wigen Fisheries specialist 507-497-1825 [email protected] Tyler Fellows Fisheries specialist 507-497-1826 [email protected] Peter Muggli Fisheries technician 507-497-1827 [email protected] Tanya Hankins Office administrative specialist 507-497-1822 [email protected] Steve Shroyer Fisheries research scientist 507-497-1833 [email protected] Dale Logsdon Fisheries research biologist 507-497-1832 [email protected]